Koyasan, the sacred mountain

Taking advantage of being in Easter time, I bring you a post about Koyasan, the sacred mountain of Japan. Located in the Wakayama prefecture, about 1000 meters above sea level, and headquarters of the Shingon Buddhist branch, the area was declared a World Heritage Site in 2004. The importance of the area lies not only in its scenic appeal, but also in its atmosphere as a religious and spiritual center.Aprovechando que estamos en Semana Santa os traigo un post sobre Koyasan, la montaña sagrada de Japón. Localizada en la prefectura de Wakayama, a unos 1000 metros sobre el nivel del mar, y sede central de la rama budista shingon, la zona fue declarada Patrimonio de la Humanidad en 2004. La importancia de la zona reside no únicamente en su atractivo paisajístico, sino también en su atmósfera como centro religioso y espiritual.[play&read]

We opted to stay at the Kokuu Guesthous and not spending a night in a temple. In fact, overnighting at this hostel was one of the highlights of the whole trip. This hostel is beautiful and unique, and their breakfast is totally recommended! I have to say that the owners were not entirely friendly, but I guess everyone can have a bad day...

The most wonderful part of Koyasan is its cemetery! A magical ride through stone paths, trees and lanterns. In fact, it is said that Miyazaki was inspired by this cemetery for his movie Totoro. Another magical place in this cemetery is the Lantern Temple, illuminated by thousands of lanterns.Lo más maravilloso de Koyasan es su cementerio! Un paseo mágico a través de caminos de piedra, árboles y farolillos. De hecho, se dice que Miyazaki se inspiro en este cementerio para su película Totoro. Otro lugar mágico dentro de este cementerio es el templo de las lamparas, donde hay miles de faroles encendidos.